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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES F. BROADBENT, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE PLUSH RENOVATING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

METHOD OF RENOVATING FABRICS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 575,591, dated January 19, 1897. Application filed April 11, 1896. Serial No. 587,211. (No specimens.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. BROADBENT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Renovating Fabrics, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in renovating fabrics that have a pile, such as plush and velvet.

The object of the invention, more particularly, is to provide for cleaning and restoring the color to plush on railroad-car seats and backs without removing the fabric from the frames. It is also applicable, of course, to

cleaning these fabrics whether on frames or loose. i

I use two compounds and take the steps to apply them substantially as hereinafter described.

Compound No. 1 consists of sixteen parts of oxalic acid and one of nitrate of potash. These are dissolved in water, one gallon of Water being used for every four (4) ounces of oxalic acid. Compound No. 2 consists of four parts pulverized alum and one part of anilin dye of the color required. These are put in Water in the proportion of four ounces of alum to one gallon of water. These compounds are applied to the plush separately, as follows First, take compound or solution No. 1 as the cleanser. Dip a sponge in this solution and dampen the plush, allowing it to remain about ten minutes. Then scrub the plush thoroughly by some suitable means-as, for instance, with an ordinary scrubbing-brush, occasionally dipping the brush in this solution-until all dirt is loosened or spots removed. The dirt may now be removed by scraping the surface of the plush with the smooth edge of a suitable scraper and then applying clean water by means of a sponge and carefully wiping the surface. Compound or solution No. 2 is now to be applied as a retoner. Take a clean scrubbing-brush (one that has not been used for solution No. 1) and dip it in solution No. 2 and in this Way apply said solution to the entire surface of the plush that has been treated with the No. 1 solution. This restores the color and fixes it to the fabric. After the plush has dried thoroughly the nap or pile may be raised and freshened by brushing the surface well with a good bristle brush.

The No. 1 compound or solution, containing only oxalic acid and saltpeter, will cleanse the pile and surface without injuring the color and without turning the plush dark, as is the case in using any compound having ammonia as an ingredient. The saltpeter has an action with the oxalic acid in cleaning plush that I have found in practice to be the thing desired. When the surface has been cleaned, the retoning compound or solution N o. 2 produces an even uniform color that makes the goods look like new.

Both compounds, No. 1 and No. 2, may be put up in powder form, ready for dissolving in water.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- The within-described process of cleaning and retoning plush, consisting first in applying to the surface of the plush a solution of oxalic acid and nitrate of potash; while the plush is wet scrubbing the same; then removing the dirt by applications of clean water and wiping as dry as possible; and finally applying a solution of alum and anilin dye to retone, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES F. BROADBENT.

\Vitnesses:

GEO. W. SMITH, CHAS. S. PARRAN. 

